Anaemia

Baroness Masham of Ilton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action is being taken to reduce the number of patients admitted to hospital with iron deficiency anaemia.

Earl Howe: Iron deficiency anaemia can be caused by a number of different underlying conditions and it is for health professionals to advise on the appropriate treatment for individual patients. The majority of people should be able to get all the iron their body requires by eating a varied and balanced diet.

Asylum: Finance

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they would incur any contractual penalties if they were to decide to cancel the Azure Card; and if so what those penalties would be.

Lord Bates: The contract does not include any penalties for early termination of provision of the Azure Card.

Asylum: Finance

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many, if any, refused asylum seekers have had support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 removed.

Lord Bates: This question has been interpreted as requesting information on the number of people who have received Section 4 support and been removed from the UK.
	Since 2007 we have removed 2301 people who have received Section 4 support.
	The figures quoted have been derived from management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols. This response was obtained by data matching a number of different databases. This is therefore likely to under-report the total figure as it will not capture data where individuals have variances in their personal details recorded on the different databases.

Asylum: Finance

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many refused asylum seekers, who have been supported under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, have subsequently been granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom.

Lord Bates: This question has been interpreted as requesting the number of people who have received Section 4 support and have also, at some point, been granted leave to remain in the UK.
	Since 2007 we have granted leave to remain to 1197 people who have also received Section 4 support.
	The figures quoted have been derived from management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols. This response was obtained by data matching a number of different databases. This is therefore likely to under-report the total figure as it will not capture data where individuals have variances in their personal details recorded on the different databases.

Asylum: Middle East

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many refugees from the Christian communities of Iraq and Syria have been received into the United Kingdom in the last 12 months; and whether they intend to review immigration and asylum provisions for such Christian refugees in the light of the continuing attacks upon them in their home countries.

Lord Bates: All asylum claims are considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with our international obligations, taking full account of the conditions in the country concerned. The Home Office does not systematically record the basis of a person’s asylum claim or the reason(s) why a person might be granted asylum, and therefore does not have accurate data on how many Christians from Iraq and Syria have claimed or been granted asylum in the UK.
	In terms of reviewing our immigration and asylum provisions, the Home Office has recently updated its country information and guidance on Iraq and plans to do likewise on Syria shortly. The guidance to decision makers—as informed by the accompanying country information—recognises the precarious situation in parts of Iraq under the control of, or being contested by, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). It also recognises that particular groups, including Christians, are at heightened risk and are therefore likely to qualify for protection.
	We continue to monitor the situation closely and, as the situation changes and more up-to-date information becomes available, we can and will update the country information and guidance to reflect this.

European Court of Human Rights

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that the European Court of Human Rights is continuing to protect freedom of expression and freedom of the press; and if not, whether they will give examples of where this has not been the case.

Lord Faulks: Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECtHR) makes clear that everyone, including the press, has the right to freedom of expression. It also makes clear that this right carries duties and responsibilities and consequently can be restricted for the reasons set out in Article 10 where prescribed by law and necessary in a democratic society.
	The Government accepts that the ECtHR sometimes has to make difficult judgments as to whether an inference with the right to freedom of expression is justified or as to how the ECtHR balances different rights.
	In the Coalition Agreement the Government agreed that the obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, including Article 10, will continue to be enshrined in UK law.

Heaths: North West

Lord Fearn: To ask Her Majesty’s Government which organisation controls heath and heather areas in the north-west of England, and where those areas are.

Lord De Mauley: Management control of heathland and other habitats with heather in the North West rests with a range of public and private entities.
	There are three types of priority habitat that are dominated by heather: (i) lowland heath; (ii) upland heathland; and (iii) mountain heath and willow scrub.
	The distribution of these habitats across the North West is shown in the maps which have been produced by Natural England and have been placed in the Library of the House and sent to the Noble Lord.

Immigration: Poland

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the contribution by resident Polish nationals to the cultural life of the United Kingdom.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Polish community makes an important contribution to arts and culture within the United Kingdom. The successful Kinoteka film festival, now in its 12thyear, the work of the Polish Cultural Institute and Polish artists such as the Turner Prize nominee Goshka Macuga, are examples of great Polish culture and artwork.

Imperial War Museum

Lord Clark of Windermere: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to assist the Imperial War Museum in continuing to provide its library services to meet the extra demand during the commemorations of the First World War.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: DCMS continues to work closely and positively with IWM. The IWM remain fully committed to maintaining IWMs presence in Manchester, London and Cambridgeshire. The IWM are considering changes to how core collections including books are accessed at IWM London, and a programme of digitisation of these core collections is in train so that those across the UK and further afield who are not able to visit the museum sites in person, can engage with IWMs subject matter.
	All accessioned collection items, and some (non-accessioned) books, ephemera, etc. will remain at or under the museum’s direct management and will continue to be accessible by appointment. However, IWM is also looking at a number of options, including possible transfer to other institutions for the materials currently held in IWMs library that are not part of its core (accessioned) collection, so that these might still be accessible to the public.

Iran

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of drought in Iran, what assistance they will provide (1) for water conservation and pricing, and (2) to promote public and private cooperation, for example in the region around Isfahan; and whether they plan to make such assistance an early priority for the reopened diplomatic post in Iran.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: DFID has no programmes in Iran. However, DFID does provide core funding of £55 million annually to UNDP. Through our core funding, UNDP supports Iran to respond to environmental challenges, including those related to water resources.
	The Government remains committed to improving our bilateral relationship with Iran. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office continues to work closely with other government departments on these and other issues concerning the UK/Iran bilateral relationship.

Lebanon

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what actions they are taking internationally to reduce over-crowding, improve safety and provide medical care for the inhabitants of Shatila and similar refugee camps in Lebanon.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: We assist the residents of Shatila and eleven other refugee camps in Lebanon by providing funding to international Non-Governmental Organisations and to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the coordination agency for humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and the region. We have committed £133.7 million for humanitarian activities in Lebanon to date and are the third largest bilateral donor to UNRWA.
	UK funding provides cash to help urban refugees rent private sector accommodation. This moderates the numbers of refugees in camps and eases the pressures of overcrowding. To improve safety and security in camps we are supporting projects to address the causes of security challenges and respond to them when they arise. Medical care for camp populations is mostly provided through UNWRA. UNRWA spends 18% of its budget on healthcare provision and runs 27 health clinics for the refugee population offering services both in camps and in the urban environment. Our assistance to refugees in Lebanon forms part of wider UK action in the region. Since the onset of the Syria crisis the UK has committed £700 million for humanitarian activities in Syria and neighbouring states. Syrian refugees, Palestinian refugees formerly resident in Syria and host communities benefit from this funding.

Obesity

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the statement in the recently published NHS Five Year Forward View that “the NHS will therefore now back hard-hitting national action on obesity”, what hard-hitting actions are envisaged.

Earl Howe: We welcome the National Health Service Five Year Forward View and will be making a substantive response in due course.
	We have a well-developed and wide-ranging programme of actions to reduce levels of obesity. These include working with a wide range of partners including Public Health England, NHS England, other Government departments, including the Department for Education and Department for Transport, and through voluntary partnership with industry. Key initiatives include Change4Life, the National Child Measurement Programme, NHS Health Checks, Change4Life Sports Clubs, school sports funding and the School Food Plan.
	In October, Public Health England published From evidence into action: opportunities to protect and improve the nation’s health which outlines its priorities. These are aligned with NHS England’s ambitions highlighted in the Five Year Forward View and commit to work with NHS England to implement the actions for tackling obesity.
	From evidence into action: opportunities to protect and improve the nation’s health is available at: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_ data/file/366852/PHE_Priorities.pdf

Overseas Students

Lord Ashcroft: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any proposals to follow the Canadian example of allowing foreign students the opportunity to work in the United Kingdom for a limited period before they return home.

Lord Bates: The UK has an excellent offer for international students, which already includes a number of options for those who wish to stay to work or set up in business after their studies.
	Students who get a graduate job paying an appropriate salary can stay after their studies by switching into the Tier 2 route. There is no limit on the number of these places, which are exempt from the cap on economic migrants.
	Graduates who wish to undertake a period of professional training relating to their degrees before pursuing a career overseas may do so by switching into an appropriate Tier 5 scheme.
	Those completing a PhD or other doctoral qualification can stay for a year under the Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme, which allows completing students to work, gain experience in their chosen field, or set up as an entrepreneur, again with no limit on numbers.
	Those who wish to stay to develop a business idea can do so under the Graduate Entrepreneur scheme, the first in the world of its kind. All they need is an endorsement from their Higher Education Institution that they have a genuine and credible business idea, and to have enough funds to support themselves.

Sudan

Baroness Cox: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the response of the United Nations Mission in Darfur to recent incidents including mass rape in Darfur.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We remain deeply concerned by the recent reports of a mass rape at Tabit village in North Darfur. We have called on the Government of Sudan to allow the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) unhindered access so that the UN can conduct a full investigation into these alleged appalling crimes. We note that UNAMID was granted access to Tabit on 9 November, but are concerned by reports that their investigations took place under the close observation of Sudanese security officials. It is important that UNAMID now continue with a thorough and impartial investigation and that all relevant information is included in future public communications.

Sudan

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that systematic rape of women and girls occurred on 31 October and 1 November in Tabit village, North Darfur, and of the role United Nations Mission in Darfur forces reportedly played in those events.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We remain deeply concerned by the recent reports of a mass rape at Tabit village in North Darfur. We have called on the Government of Sudan to allow the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) unhindered access so that the UN can conduct a full investigation into these alleged appalling crimes. We note that UNAMID was granted access to Tabit on 9 November, but are concerned by reports that their investigations took place under the close observation of Sudanese security officials. It is important that UNAMID now continue with a thorough and impartial investigation and that all relevant information is included in future public communications.

Work Capability Assessment

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether people who are undergoing a work capability assessment because of mental health problems are guaranteed assessment by health professionals who have psychiatric expertise.

Lord Freud: All healthcare professionals who carry out work capability assessments on behalf of the DWP are fully trained in disability assessment and are registered with their respective Regulatory Body. Healthcare professionals receive comprehensive training in the functional effects of mental health conditions. In addition all health professionals are supported by mental function champions who have specialist knowledge of mental health conditions and provide support and best practice advice.